1. What is a WAN Throughput Calculator?

Definition: This calculator estimates the actual throughput of a Wide Area Network (WAN) connection based on bandwidth and delay.

Purpose: It helps network engineers and administrators understand the real-world performance of WAN links.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( T \) — Throughput (bits per second)
• \( B \) — Bandwidth (bits per second)
• \( D \) — Delay (seconds)

Explanation: The formula accounts for how network delay reduces the effective throughput of a connection, even when bandwidth is high.

3. Importance of Throughput Calculation

Details: Understanding actual throughput helps in network planning, troubleshooting performance issues, and setting realistic expectations for application performance.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the bandwidth in bits per second and the delay in seconds. Bandwidth must be > 0, delay must be ≥ 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why does delay affect throughput?
A: Delay causes protocol overhead (like TCP acknowledgments) that reduces the effective data transfer rate.

Q2: What's a typical delay for WAN connections?
A: For terrestrial links, 10-50ms is common. Satellite links may have 500ms+ delays.

Q3: Does this account for packet loss?
A: No, this is a simplified model. Real throughput may be lower with packet loss.

Q4: How do I measure actual bandwidth?
A: Use tools like iPerf or speedtest.net to measure raw bandwidth capacity.

Q5: What's the difference between bandwidth and throughput?
A: Bandwidth is the theoretical maximum, while throughput is the actual achievable rate.